Word Origin & History

negotiate "to communicate in search of mutual agreement," 1590s, back-formation from negotiation (q.v.). In the sense of "tackle successfully" (1862), it at first meant "to clear on horseback a hedge, fence, or other obstacle" and "originated in the hunting-field; those who hunt the fox like also to hunt jocular verbal novelties." [Gowers, 1965]

Example Sentences for negotiate

Let us never negotiate out of fear.

We learned how to read our radar images and meticulously negotiate the hills.

The next step is to negotiate a contract, which may take months.

We should be prepared to negotiate on some of these nine points separately.

They won't negotiate with you regarding salary at an initial interview.

But she said she had to negotiate and get everything in writing.

Stay calm so that you can see if you can negotiate a settlement.

Following the court's decision, union leaders immediately went to the bargaining table to negotiate with the publishing industry.